Magid Abou-Gharbia, Ph.D., FRSC Joins LAXAI as Scientific Advisor

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- LAXAI, a Leading Contract
Research Organization based in the U.S. and India providing integrated
services across the drug discovery and development spectrum, today announced
that Magid Abou-Gharbia, Ph.D., FRSC has joined the company as its Scientific
Advisor.

Naren Mallakunta, CEO of LAXAI, welcomed Magid by saying, "It is a privilege
to have Magid Abou-Gharbia as our Scientific Advisor. His extensive knowledge
and experience in the Global Research Pharmaceutical Industry will guide LAXAI
in its endeavor to offer more value based integrated/collaborative research
services to our Biopharmaceutical Clients."

"I am pleased to join LAXAI as its Scientific Advisor. LAXAI with their strong
management team and experienced staff is regarded among the leaders in
contract research and outsourcing services," said Professor Abou-Gharbia. "The
Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research at the School of Pharmacy, Temple
University is pleased to enter into a strategic partnership with LAXAI in the
areas of Medicinal Chemistry, Biology and Integrated/Collaborative Research.
LAXAI is an ideal partner for biotech and major Pharma to increase medicinal
chemistry capacity and complement internal in-house Drug Discovery resources,"
said Professor Abou-Gharbia

Dr. Abou-Gharbia is the Associate Dean for Research, Professor of Medicinal
Chemistry and Director of the Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research
(MCDDR) at the School of Pharmacy, Temple University. Prior to joining Temple
University in 2008, Dr. Abou-Gharbia spent 26 years at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
where he was Senior Vice President and Head of Chemical Screening Sciences. He
was responsible for overseeing and directing the chemistry and screening
research efforts of over 500 scientists at four U.S. research facilities and
one in Hyderabad, India in support of drug discovery in neuroscience,
inflammation, women's health/bone, oncology and cardiovascular disease. His
research efforts resulted in 100 U.S. patents and over 350 worldwide patents
and contributed to the discovery of several marketed drugs and many compounds
currently under clinical evaluation including two SNRI anti-depressants,
Effexor(R) and Pristiq(R), an anticancer rapamycin derivative, Torisel(R), a
broad spectrum antibiotic, Tygacil(R), and a selective estrogen receptor
modulator, bazedoxifene. Dr. Abou-Gharbia received his Ph.D. in Organic
Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania. After a two year NIH
Postdoctoral Fellowship at Temple University, he joined Wyeth. Dr.
Abou-Gharbia will provide expertise and insight into strategies and medicinal
chemistry approaches utilized in the design of novel small molecules CNS
therapeutics. His numerous awards include: Induction to ACS Medicinal
Chemistry Hall of Fame (2008); ACS Heroes of Chemistry (2008); Alfred Burger
Award in Medicinal Chemistry (2008); Science and Technology Medal from the R&D
Council of New Jersey (2008); selected among the Top 10 Scientists in New
Jersey by New Jersey Business Magazine (2008); American Institute of Chemists
(AIC) Chemistry Pioneer Award (2007); Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
(FRSC 2006); Researcher of the Year (2006) from Health Care Institute of NJ
(HINJ); Trailblazer Award (2006) from Science Spectrum; Induction into the New
Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame (2004); The Procter Medal (2003); ACS Earle B.
Barnes Award (2001); Philadelphia Organic Chemists Club (POCC) Award (2001);
Egyptian Pharmaceutical Society Drug Discovery Award (2000);Named as one of
the most Prolific Inventors of the Decade by US Patent & Trade Mark (1998);
ACS-Philadelphia Section Award (1997); Wyeth-Ayerst Exceptional Achievement
Award (1992); and others.

LAXAI (www.laxai.com) provides services in Clinical Research, Medicinal
Chemistry, Biology, Process R&D and Analytical Services, Strategic Resourcing
and Training to the Biopharmaceutical and Agrochemical Companies. LAXAI offers
a unique value proposition to clients in their drug discovery and development
initiatives through innovative global partnership models.

SOURCE LAXAI

Naren Mallakunta of LAXAI, +1-732-543-4923, naren@laxai.com